Aerial images of the World Trade Center show the site's evolution from 1966 to now

On August 5, 1966, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey broke ground on a towering complex in Lower Manhattan.

The development replaced

The anger faded as the skyline made way for seven new buildings, including the landmark Twin Towers, which opened in 1973. At more than 1,360 feet tall, the towers were the tallest buildings in the world at the time of their completion. They were also a symbol of New York City, appearing in numerous films and television shows. On an average weekday in the 1990s, they hosted around 50,000 employees and 20,000 visitors.

But the World Trade Center's size and prominence also made it a target for unwanted attention, and ultimately attacks. Over its decades-long history, the structures endured fires, bombings, and robberies, and fell on September 11, 2001 when terrorists crashed planes into the towers, killing nearly 3,000 people and decimating the structures.

1966: Breaking ground

In 1966, workers began demolishing 13 square blocks of Radio Row to make way for the World Trade Center. The above photo shows the construction site, with the New York Telephone Company in the background and the West Side Highway to the left.

1996-1973: Construction

By January 1971, construction was in full swing. The year before, the first batch of residents moved into One World Trade Center, otherwise known as the

1993: The bombing

The image above shows

2001: 9/11 attacks

On the morning of September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center site met a devastating end when two planes crashed into the Twin Towers, killing nearly 3,000 people. Both buildings fell to the ground after

2001: Recovery and aftermath

2002: Rebuilding

In 2002, the city held a ceremony to mark the end of its cleanup efforts, which had lasted nearly nine months.

2008: Delays and hold-up

In 2008, the owners of the World Trade Center released a

2014: The unveiling of the Freedom Tower

Seven years after

2018: A new era

The latest building to be completed, 3 World Trade Center, officially opened on June 11, 2018. At 1,079 feet tall, it is the fifth tallest building in New York City and features 2.5 million square feet of office space.

The structure towers above the reflecting pools at the September 11 Memorial. Hundreds of white oak trees are scattered around the pools, symbolizing the area's renewed growth.